Many of you probably remember the post I did about six months ago on Is It Time For Online Dating? Well I got thrown under the bus again last night as Allen decided to use my poor dating record in 2008 as a discussion point.

About halfway through the show I put up a Twitter / Facebook update that said, "Allen has been making fun of my dating hardcore on tonight's show. Some one call in and defend me..." to which my wonderful friend Lissa replied, "I don't want to defend you, you serial monogamist, you. :) But, now I DO want a copy of the show. That's hilarious. Right on, Allen. :)" It's good to know you got friends who love you.

But to give Lissa what she wanted - because after all I am all about meeting the needs of the women in my life ;) - I segmented my part up. Take a listen (or the entire show):



Couple observations after re-listening to myself.

1. I blamed my job a lot, but didn't discuss the other factors as to why I don't meet a lot of 20-somethings. Purchasing a house in soccer mom central, not really liking Church small groups, etc...
2. Allen seems to think that online dating means you date online. Rather for his terminology, I think most 20-somethings do "online meeting." The idea here is that 20-somethings are dating more online in a down economy because they want the security of a relationship and online is where you find singles; not that people are dating online because it keeps you from spending money by going out. In reality, the people I know who do online dating spend way more money on dating than anybody else I know.
3. For the record - this can't be stated enough - I still don't have a womb, nor do I think at all about my non-existent biological clock. As my roommate put it when I discussed this with him today, if it is any clock it is really more of a "lifestyle clock" than it is a biological clock.

But I did mean what I said in the discussion. If you would have asked me six months ago - which Allen did - I would come down very hard on personally using online dating. After exhausting pretty much all the options I had with people I'd be willing to date, and not meeting any new people; six months later I find myself being far more tempted.

My roommate thinks I should do it (actually he almost signed me up over Christmas break with out telling me - again, great friends) and then I could blog about the whole experience. I am SURE everyone of the potential dates would love that. Although then I would be able to at least write-off the online dating fees ;)

Well no great conclusion on this one. I'll just end with this hilarious clip from How I Met Your Mother. I love this show.


If that wasn't enough the full episode can be found here.

We all know I am an über-aviation nerd.

I have spent the last 7 years teaching myself how to fly using a simulator, longing for the day in which I can responsibly afford to go get my own pilots license.

I love going to airports. I used to just sit at the end of the runway at LAX, have some In 'N Out burger and watch the planes come in.

I will volunteer to drive to the airport for anyone, at anytime.

I also spend way too much time at airliners.net.

I am going to let you in on one of my deepest secrets - of which I am sure you will laugh at. I have a hero fantasy. But every man desires to be hero, right? Mine just focuses on aviation. It goes like this...

I am on a plane. For some reasons both pilots become incapacitated to fly. Terrorist event would be the best since that would make me a "national" hero in the end - but I'll let anything suffice. Of course, the pilots wouldn't die in said fantasy. Some how we get control of the plane back from the terrorists, but the pilots still aren't able to fly. With no one able to fly, I of course jump to the opportunity. Air traffic control of course wants me to land at the nearest airport, but I say neigh, I am continuing on to the destination (which happens to be LAX) because I am more comfortable landing there since I have situational awareness. I navigate across the country, get her lined up on ILS, and put her down a bit too hard, but safe nonetheless.

I think if it were perfectly clear weather, with no crosswind, and no problems with the aircraft, and auto-pilot worked, and there was ILS at the runway there is about a 47.935% chance I could put the plane on the ground with no one dying.

Sounds a bit like the movie Airplane doesn't it? Ohh well. As always, have a good laugh at my expense.

But alas the only emergency landing in over 200,000 miles of flying was enroute to Fort Wayne from Atlanta on a Delta airlines flight. We diverted to Evansville. Needless to say, the pilot didn't need my help.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that my friend Chris asked in the last blog post why I hadn't blogged on US Airways Flight 1492. Actually, it surprised me that I didn't think of it before he said something.

So get a cup of coffee this might get long. This will be the ultimate US Airways Flight 1549 blog post. If you ignore this one because it goes so far beyond my 500 word normal max, I will forgive you. But some of the video is pretty cool. Ready for take off...

First off, here is a simulated reenactment I flew on MS Flight Simulator. Exact model of the plane. The old paint scheme though. My take off was a bit too steep, but all and all, pretty close. What I find amazing is how quick the whole thing happened.


Next is the best video I have found of the landing in the water. The pilot did an amazing job (more on that later), and CNN did a good job putting this all together.


This is the best video I have found of the rescue effort. It is amazing how quickly everybody got out and the boats got to them.



The pilot - Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger truly did an amazing job. This is where pilots earn there money. Whenever I hear someone say pilots make too much money, I think to myself, sure that would be correct, if you could guarantee safe flight. But when an engine goes out, or in a crosswind landing scenario, or having to ditch in a river you'll be glad they are as professional as they are.

In addition to that, the Flight Attendants are in the same boat. Anybody can serve drinks from a cart. But it takes a true professional to be able to get hundreds of people out of four doors in under 90 seconds. FAs deserve our respect just as much as pilots do.

For all the people on 1549 - if the flight crew wasn't such professionals, this is what would have happened:

The pilot here made two very large mistakes that thankfully Sully did not. 1.) He didn't come in level. Thus one tip caught the water early causing an asymetrical force. 2.) He didn't land in deep enough water. He actually hit a sand bar. Over 80% of the people were killed on this flight. On "Sully's" flight no one died.

Planes can fly on only one engine. It is part of their certification process. Also, it isn't uncommon for their to be a problem with a plane's engine in midflight - most the time this is at cruising altitude and it can be restarted. What made 1549 such a troubling situation is that both engines - not just one - became useless at the same time. I can think of less than 10 flights in the history of flight where this has happened.

In addition to that, they became useless at a relatively low altitude. This creates a big problem in that it removes glide time. If you lose power on a plane at say 36,000 feet, I believe you can "coast" to the ground safely for around 108 miles. That should easily give a pilot enough time to find a safe runway. When you lose power at 3,000 feet, you don't have very much time to find an alternative.

Needless to say, the odds of losing both engines, at such a low altitude are extremely low - but all the more reason "Sully" did a great job piloting that aircraft.

Now on to a few of my favorite pictures from the situation.

This is a good photo screenshot showing the path, altitudes and airspeeds. It is a bit off in its location (i.e. the plane went down close to Central park, but on this map it has it's final impact further south). But you get the idea:



How would you like to survive a plane crash, exit the plane in under 90 seconds, in freezing temperatures and water, only to be greeted by another plane staring you down. I about fell out of my chair when I saw the Concorde (museum) in the background of the rescue footage.



Someone wasn't paying attention during the safety briefing. This would probably still work at keeping you afloat, but it might choke you in the process.



I think this picture really shows just how close this plane was to crashing into buildings if it weren't for the skilled hands of "Sully."


I find it a bit ironic - and some of the passengers might take issue - that FBOWeb has marked their plane's status as "landed"



And if this blog isn't long enough, I am going to throw in one more caveat. I was looking at the NYTimes Interactive Tracking of Flight 1549 and the only 20-something I found in there was Emma Sophina in 13F. Since she was in her 20s I figured she'd have a Facebook or MySpace and sure enough she does. And she is a musician.

Isn't it weird to think about how technology has changed our lives even when it comes to tragic (or potentially tragic) events. 10 years ago something like this happens and people are names in a newspaper.

Now something like this happens and they are an internet search away and you know all about them, or can listen to their music, or shoot them a message. It it one more example of how this world is a smaller place because of technology.

I find that interesting.

Plus since I like Avril and Taylor Swift, I don't think it surprises anyone that I think the music wasn't half bad.

Well, I don't think I can write anymore. If you think I missed something, please be sure to pass along. Hope you have a good time on your next flight.

I apologize for the delay in this. I was planning on blogging about taxes and your 20s (I know, sexy right?) for Monday, but it just didn't seem right in light of Obama's inauguration.

Then I decided to blog about Obama's inauguration, but the words just never came to me. Plus it has been a very busy week.

But the words - strike that - word finally came to me: disappointment.

You are probably thinking that I might be a helpless conservative who just can't get over the fact that "we" lost, right? No, that isn't it.

Ok...so you probably are thinking that I might be an Obama-mania fan who was disappointed in the let down of his speech, right? No, not that either.

I both have great respect and admiration for Barack Obama and truly want him to succeed; while at the same time disagree with him significantly on a plethora of issues. So my feelings essentially neutralize themselves.

So why disappointed? Because I missed it.

Think back.

Wouldn't you have liked to been in Berlin when the wall came down?

Or wouldn't you have liked to been on the Mall when Martin Luther King, Jr gave his "I Have A Dream Speech."

Or witness the Wright Brother's take flight?

And think how amazing it would have been to see - with your own eyes - John Hancock put his signature on the Declaration of Independence?

There are huge historical moments that define generations. Moments that are truly special to be apart of. Moments you tell your children, and your grandchildren about. Moments you get one shot at. January 20th was one of those moments and I missed it.

I could have gone. I have friends in DC I could have stayed with. I could have missed work. Heck I probably could have written off the trip or maybe gotten a press pass.

But I let it slip by.

And as someone who values experiencing things in person - maybe too much - I feel royally disappointed I didn't make it the Capital.

It ended up being one of the proudest moments I have ever witnessed during my lifetime. Tuesday morning I watched CNN from 10 am to 5 pm, in my pajamas, and alone. Allen called and we had a 7 minute conversation about the morning, but that was about it.

I won't forget it. But I wish it could have been more.

Where any of you in DC? What did you think? For the rest of you, what did you think of the morning and the moment?

I had the greatest middle school math teacher. His name was Mr. Panning. He was a great teacher. He was a great cross country coach. And especially at that point in my life - he was a great role model.

I remember sitting in Geometry my 8th grade year and numerous times hearing students (*cough* myself) saying, "when the heck am I going to need to know this in the real world."

More on that later...

We decided at last week's creative strategy meeting that one thing we wanted to do with the website was to "localize" it to the market we are in. So, for example, if someone from Tucson visits the website, the design reflects the fact we are on KQTH in Tucson. Or if in Fort Wayne, it reflects WOWO. You get the idea.

Pretty unique, huh? Problem is: this is not an easy thing to do.


Crazy I know. But what does this have to do with math?

Taking someone's lat/lon coordinates and figuring out what zipcode that coordinates to (and therefore what radio market) incorporates some crazy math. Mainly using the Great Circle Formula to determine proximity:


Take that formula, incorporate with a MySQL database schema, sort by distance from nearest to furthest, limit your results to 1 (the nearest) and bam! You've figured out figured out the radio market a web visitor is in.

I guess my punk-8th grade self has his answer 12 years later.

There was a lot I learned back then I never knew how I would use.

I think about the only web programming class I have ever taken was in 7th grade. And the only video editing class I ever took was in 8th grade. The only design class I took was Sophomore year of high school. All while I thought I was going to be a doctor or an attorney.

On top of that, my last math class was pre-calculus my Junior year of high school.

10 years later, and with out a single college class in any of those fields, I find those classes were a great foundation.

What do you think you are learning today that you will utilize 10 years down the road?

I know as I get older I have become less teachable. We become "experts." We think we know what we need to know and ignore the rest. But like 8th graders in math class, just because we can't foresee what we need down the road, it never hurts to learn new things.

As my Uncle once told me, "you are either learning or you are dying." It's your choice.

Tonight I was moving some current financial records from my "active" filing box to my "archive" filing box and I came across some old letters I had saved. There were some from my dad, some from professors in college, and a few others I had saved along the way. But one was from my Grandpa shortly before his death.

I thought I had remembered this letter with great detail.

I remembered the paragraph that is redacted (which will not be elaborated on publicly), and I remember the paragraph about the U-boat and WW2.

Strangely I did not remember the paragraph about my Uncle, nor the paragraph about my Grandfather's regrets, nor the paragraph about the, then recent, ex-girlfriend whom he had met the previous spring when we went skiing in Colorado.

I pulled out the type-writer paper from the flax stationary envelope and began to read...




He died a month later.

My Grandfather meant a lot to me. I always felt that out of my two parents, and four grandparents, my mother's father always understood me the best. He always treated me like I was an adult, even when I was 7 years old.

One of the most vivid memories I have of my Grandpa was shortly after my dad left. We were in my home's living room and amongst tears - which I later found out that very few people have ever seen him cry - talking about our family's current situation. He looked at me and said, "Andy, you need to be the man of the house now. Your mom needs your help."

I was 14.

It is something my mom to this day can't believe he said. But it is a moment I will remember forever.

His death came 3 years later, almost to the day, of that afternoon in the living room. It was odd for me. I don't remember being all that sad - even though he meant the world to me.

I was in hotel at 14th and Spring Street in Midtown Atlanta of all places (at that time I lived in Indiana) at a journalism conference with some fellow classmates. I flew to the funeral in Denver. I remember not crying during the whole trip. I found this odd, but I didn't force it. I then flew back to Indiana on Thanksgiving by myself.

As I have gotten older I have had moments where I wished he was still around. Moments where I feel he would get what I was dealing with better than anyone. Moments where I wish I could shoot ideas and offers and decisions off of him.

So tonight I sat at my desk up in my loft and I took a moment while everyone else watched The Bachelor and read his note again from from almost nine years ago.

I remembered what a great man he was.

And I cried a little...

I am not really a big fan of resolutions. I sort of think they are stupid. But I will say this, I miss the 2,164 mile, 28-hour drives I made 4 times a year at the beginning and end of every semester in college. Most of you are probably cringing at the thought. I loved them.

They were always such good times to either reflect a.) what the next four months would be about, or b.) what the last four months ended up being about. It was really good for me. I miss them a lot.

I don't have much like that now. Even long road trips aren't great reflective times, but rather my mind racing at a million miles per hour about what needs to be done when I am gone and when I get back. So I guess resolutions might be the best thing to do now that the road trip is gone.

So here are my 2009 "resolutions."

1. I am not going to miss big events in my family and friends lives - I missed a lot of stuff in 2008. Mainly weddings of people I very much cared for - but other things as well. It's hard with the show on Saturday nights. But this year I am taking steps to fix that. In November I booked a flight for my friends wedding in Oregon in August. I am also going to go out and see Sarah after she has her baby.

2. Take more "weekenders" - As I have blogged before, I love weekenders. Whether running off to the beach at Hilton Head in the summer or hoping on a plane and going far away. 48 hours away is great for me. I am going to go skiing with my sister in February. Visit Sarah in March. Probably get up to DC and visit Nathan in April. And a trip to Chicago in June. All Thursday - Saturday trips. Then it is beach time in Hilton Head all summer long. Actually trying to take a "weekend" this year. Anyone else want me to come and visit? I'll add you to the list.

3. Finally complete the new Allen Hunt Show Website - I have literally been talking about this for well over 18 months now. It's needs some serious revamping. Now that I have an intern this Spring, I might actually be able to get it done.

4. Paint the inside of my home - I'll be honest. I am not a big fan of the interior of my house. It's so bland and uncreative. Thus, by the end of 2009 - and maybe with some help by CJ and Andrea - the interior of my house will be completely re-done.

Well that's it. Enjoy. What are your resolutions for this year?

I have made it no secret that I have political ambitions. I'd love to be a Mayor, and then a Governor, and then President.

I used to imagine what my Presidency would be like while mowing the lawn. I would give imaginary speeches in my head. I would come up with administration policy positions on a whole slue of issues. I would even think about what "common" events I would attend and how to build morale in the country. I know this will probably never happen - due to reasons I have blogged about in the past - but I still think about it.

There is though another reason that I think may prevent me from being President. Even if I got into politics, I wonder if all I would ever be is Vice President...

I just got into watching a show called Damages on FX. Fantastic work. Really. About an intelligent, driven young woman who just passed the bar and got accepted into a high-profile firm in New York. And even though there is a definite bad guy in an opposing law suit, the real antagonist is her boss: Patty Hewes. It's kind of like the novel The Firm, but with women.

I watched 9 episodes in a row on Friday. This scene hit a little too close to home.


One of my biggest fears - I would even go as far as saying my largest professional fear - is that I will always be a number two.

It has happened at every stage thus far. In high school I was number two to CJ in my leadership role with the youth group. In college, I was number two to Bryan. Now, I pretty much make a living being Allen's number two.

The only time I ever got to be number one was as Editor-In-Chief of Yearbook and I was awful at it.

Don't get me wrong. Being number two is great when you are good at it. It beats being number three or four or worse, so far down the list there is no number. There are a lot of people who would love to be the number two. I know this because of the animosity received being the number two. Everyone always sucks up to number one, they take their frustration out on number two.

But I am not going to lie: as great as it is at this stage, the idea of being number two my whole life haunts me deeply. There is something deep inside that desires to be number one, but the older I get the more I wonder if I'll get there.

So what if Patty is right? What if, like Tom, I am a great number two and that is my limit? What if I am only destined to be Deputy Mayor, a Lieutenant Governor, and a Vice-President?

My faith teaches me that I should accept how God created me, as this will ultimately bring the most fulfillment. But I have to say I would be very disappointed.

Well I have had some serious posts recently so I figured I would lighten it up a bit.

First of all, who saw Scrubs last night? Seriously! I am so glad it is back on the air. The first episode of the evening wasn't all that great, but the second was phenomenal. And mad props to my brother for catching the coincidence of the episode subject and my previous blog on death. Crazy. I think someone at Scrubs is reading my blogs and coming up with shows really quickly afterward. If you are out there...I know you are there!

If you missed this show, you can catch the full episode here. Great job capturing the universal fear of death. Hmm...it was good.

Second bit of light-heartedness. I am going to kill Paris Hilton. Now I know that isn't particularity light-hearted nor am I the first one who has said this. But I bet I am the only with my reason.

I was listening to WSB-sister-station 95.5 The Beat this morning on the 5-minute drive to the office and they were talking about some ground breaking piece of important news: Paris Hilton thinks she will be ready to have children in 2 years or so.

But here's the worst part: she is going to name her first girl London.

Ever since watching the Seinfeld episode where George wants to name his daughter Seven - I decided I was going to name my daughters Paris and Sydney - after my two favorite cities. Mind you this was circa 2000.

But then in 2003, Paris Hilton becomes famous because she doinked some genius from New Jersey that somehow let the tape get on the internet. Lesson to all you young ladies out there: if you are going to make a sex tape, make sure you keep it.

Thus my plan of naming my daughter Paris is completely thwarted. And even though I am sure Paris will die of syphilis before I have a daughter, I still won't be able to name my daughter Paris.

But now this! She is going to name her kid London. That is like one step away from Sydney. Who is to say she won't name her second daughter Sydney - thus one woman will have essentially ruined both the names I wanted for my kids.

I guess I am going to have to marry Nicky Hilton (she's the cuter one anyway) and then we'll pop out a kid before Paris can and thus I will get my revenge! Yeah...that's the plan...I'll work on that one for a bit.

If you knew your death was imminent - like within minutes - and there was absolutely nothing you could do about it, what do you think you would do?

Would you freak out?

Would you pray? Especially for forgiveness?

Would you try and call loved ones? Which ones?

What if you couldn't contact anyone?

For some reason I think about this when I fly. Not with any morbid panic, "we're all going to die" mindset. But just in a subdued fact of reality that it could happen.

I know what I would do. I would grab the iPhone and pull up I Can Only Imagine. I am not usually a big fan of Christian music, but I Can Only Imagine is great simply because it has no answers, just one open-ended statement-question: I Can Only Imagine?



If I had an extra couple of minutes I would probably pull up one more: Brooke White's performance of Let It Be on American Idol. I often listen to this after I have had a really bad day. It is incredibly calming.

.

Other close contenders were Come What May the Moulin Rouge version and Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World.

I think I would also try and get off one quick text message - hoping that I would get cell coverage before impact. It would probably go to Allen - strange I know - but I don't know anyone who empathetically, but helpfully breaks bad news to people better than him.

It would read:
Going down. All is well. Tell all I love them, not to be angry, and to keep living life to the fullest

It wouldn't be long, and I wouldn't send out more than one. I'd get that off, sit back, and let the moment of worship take me into eternity - whatever that may be.

I don't really know why I blogged about this today. Maybe it was last night's show. It just came to my mind for some reason and I figured I would share. That's what I would hope for in my final moments, what do you think you would do?

It has been another long day. Up around 8 when Jadyn gets up after a night of minimal sleep due to Asher not sleeping through the night. The next 14 hours are spent non-stop taking care of the kids and tending to the new house.

She walks down the stairs after a very long process of putting Jadyn to bed - as breathtakingly beautiful and sexy as she was before popping out two kids - and instead of passing out on the couch next to her lazy husband and her lazy husband's lazy friend, she looks at CJ and I and asks, "would you guys like fruit smoothies."

This is Andrea. She is amazing. And she more than anyone deserves to be a woman we love.

More on this later...

I once went to a church service that had a silhouetted drama skit of two scenes: a groom with his best man and a bride with her maid of honor. The skit was about conflicting expectations after marriage.

It became painfully obvious the antagonist in this story was the best man - mainly due to the new wife's low opinion of her new husband's best friend. I remember nothing else from the service but one single thought: "man am I glad Andrea is as cool as she is."

It is one thing to have a best friend in life as cool as CJ. It is quite another to have my best friend's wife be my second best friend.

She works at least twice as hard as I do - and complains half as much.

She is more patient and nurturing with her kids than anyone I have ever known.

She unconditionally loves and respects her husband - even when he doesn't deserve it.

She lets her husband's best friend spend weeks at her house, including over their anniversary, with out blinking an eye.

Simply put she is the most wonderful woman I know.

Some may look at this and think it isn't very feminist, but I would argue she is a perfect model of feminism because she is living the life she set out to live.

I don't feel that it has to be a woman's place to stay home and raise the kids. And even though I have spent most of my 20-something existence making financial decisions that will hopefully enable my wife to stay at home if that is what she wants, I also have no problem if pursuing a career is something that is important to her.

But feminism is about choice. This gets forgotten. It isn't doing about what is expected - albeit a career or homemaker. It is about knowing what one wants in life and not having anyone prevent that. Andrea knew what she wanted out of life, and is phenomenal at it.

I have (probably mistakenly) told more than one girlfriend that I don't really care what my mom thinks of you, it's Andrea who you really have to be worried about. She is with out a shadow of a doubt Supermom and Superwife and definitely a woman I love.